This week my mother turned 75 years old. Wow! It’s not like she’s the first person to ever turn 75, its just realizing how time quickly passes by. She’s quite an awesome mom, too. Mothering 10 children, not to mention all the neighborhood kids she cared for, taking care of her Dad and Mother and then later in life, our own Father. And still, at 75, going like the everlasting “Energizer Bunny”. I called her the night before her birthday and you know what her plans were in the morning? On the morning of her 75th birthday, she was going to be driving over to the Senior Center and making breakfast for 25 seniors. They rave about her desserts and other items she brings in to share so getting her to make them a breakfast was a real treat, indeed. That’s just the kind of person my mother has always been, taking care of and doing for others. That’s also why she is and has always been my role model.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a long way from being like my mother. She will certainly be “sainted” in her glory days. It’s just my goal to be more like her. When my mother turned 57, we were able to give her a really cool birthday present, a grand daughter. Abigail was born 2 weeks late, 9 lb. 10 oz, and given a middle name she shares with her grandmother. Man, did this really change our lives. If you have trouble with math, that would make Abby 18 years old this week too. Yeah, we still can’t believe it.
We spent a lot of time while she was growing up making some great memories. Playing in the back yard with the cocker spaniels, riding tricycles with her Aunt Joyce, playing “chase” with Grandpa Ray, trips to see the Cardinals play, catching her first fish at the lake on Springfield Ave, dance classes, vacations with cousins, “camping out”, playing dress-up, all the things that make growing up fun. Some of my favorite memories will always be spending time with Ab doing things she knew I liked. I loved watching her play softball. She could hit with the best of them and field her positions better than most that played the game. I may sound biased but I played and coached many years and saw lots of talent. She’s a natural playing softball. I also enjoyed teaching Abby to shoot and taking her out hunting with me. I like to think she enjoyed it too. One of my favorite memories was teaching Abby to drive and letting her drive my truck before she was of age. Her mother would have stroked out if she knew…wait..oh well. She’ll get over it.
As many of you know, I take a trip every summer to a place that is very special to me. It’s a outdoorsman’s paradise. A fishing retreat in northern Ontario that can only be reached by float plane or boat. You can’t drive to this lake and fish on the banks. I’ve been blessed to have gone for the last 12 years, but a few years ago it was a pretty special trip. We were 2 weeks from going north and one of the guys backed out of the trip. After checking with all my friends and friends of friends, we couldn’t find a replacement. So, I decided to take Abby north so we had an even amount of fishermen.
There was a slight problem; Abby had never fished for walleye and northern pike before. I took her to the local sporting goods dealers and got her all geared up. Once we got on the island, I spent the first half-day and the second day teaching her “the ropes” to landing walleye. Low and behold, she spent the week catching lots of fish, getting her summer reading done for school, and getting to know some of dad’s friends better than she really wanted too. We had met a group of guys there from Michigan. One of them had been there before; the other 5 it was their first time too. By the end of the week, Abby had caught more walleye by herself than the 6 guys from Michigan did altogether. Man, was I really proud of her.
Those are just a few of the memories that we’ve been lucky to share. In a couple months Abby will be graduating from high school and a couple months after that, starting college at Bowling Green State University. She’s got a whole brand new chapter of life ahead and we’re excited for her. It’s my hope that as she grows older these memories will be as special to her as they are to me. And when she thinks of them as I know she will, they will bring a smile to her face. The same smile that melted my heart 18 years ago and still does today. That’s the view from my stand!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Friday, December 31, 2010
Happy New Year, Make It The Best Year Ever!
We come to the close of another year that seems to have flown by but yet still full of blessings. 2010 was exciting as well as challenging at times. When things are “normal” or what passes off as normal around our home, I usually write a Christmas letter and fill out over 150 cards for the holiday. That didn’t happen this year so I thought this would be a great place to do our “recap of the year gone by”. We had our share of “mountain top experiences” as well as some times “down in the valley”. Below you will read some of the events of our year with a few captions as well. We always try to make the most out of the time we get to spend with family and friends and our yearly calendar reflects this.
~ After bringing in the New Year with our good friends Brad and Julie Chutes, the first couple of months were spent getting caught up after the holidays. We also enjoyed celebrating a couple of birthdays, Abby {Jan.25th} and Mariah’s {Feb. 22nd}
~ We celebrated Barb’s birthday {March 2nd} with a trip to Illinois to see family. Chad & Angie were visiting from Texas with the newest member of their family, Olivia {“O-Dog”}. What a precious baby she is!
~ In April we celebrated our 26th wedding anniversary. I took a much needed early season “golf getaway” to North Myrtle Beach with some great friends. {GB, King, Donny, and the Senator} I also started working with a local organization called The Alpha Group. They are a non-profit agency that provides employment for adults with disabilities. I get to supervise a work crew of 3-5 guys as they do lawn care and landscaping in the summer and snow removal in the winter. It’s a challenging position but it’s very much like working around the guys at the cigar shop.
~ In June we followed through with one of our wishes. We’ve always wanted to get a huge cabin in the Smokies and vacation with family members, so right after school was out that’s exactly what we did. We’ve been to the Smokies several times but this was the most fun. {Except for when Barb jacked up her knee and we had to go to the ER}
~ July brought about our annual trip to Canada for some incredible walleye, northern pike and smallmouth bass fishing. This year I went with my friends Ed, Trooper Bobby, the good Senator from Arkansas, and Black Superman and his mother. Man, was I relieved when we got held up at the border that Troops Ohio State Highway Patrol bag sat on top of all the other bags. We were extended some “professional courtesy” just when we really needed it. This trip is always the pinnacle of my summers and I look forward to it like nothing else. You wouldn’t understand if you’ve never been. Also in July, with the help of Facebook, I was able to reconnect with an old friend, Brad Noe and his family.
~ August ushered in another school year and began the process of college applications for Abby. She had her choices narrowed down to 3 colleges. After researching the three and filling out the apps, the waiting game was on. She was very excited about getting the letter of acceptance to Bowling Green State University. Abby is going to be a “Falcon”. A few weeks after she found out she was accepted she received another letter from their business school accepting her into that program. We can hardly believe our baby is graduating and heading to college soon.
~ September ushered in the early deer season and dove season in Kentucky where I hunted with Brad and a few others. There’s a 450 acre farm south of Louisville that we are leasing for hunting rights and it’s a great place to get away. We took our first deer of the year that weekend. DJ finished up another season of soccer and practiced shooting his gun in eager preparation for his first hunt this year. We had unseasonably HOT weather for Sept. and on Little Brown Jug Day {Sept. 23rd} it was 95 degrees. We did our best to stay hydrated. We also had our annual golf outing in support of the Mike Dodge Memorial Fund. We were able to take a couple of great friends from Ohio to Illinois, too play golf and meet some of our family. I’m hoping we still stay friends!
~ October brought with it the beginning of filling out all the paperwork and getting deposits in at BGSU for Abby. She’s excited about her freshman class getting to live in brand new dorms with “private bathrooms”. I’m excited because BG is only about 50 minutes from Cabelas in Dundee, Michigan. Actually, we are very excited for her to get started in a new stage in her journey. I hope we’ve done enough preparing her for it.
~ November couldn’t get here soon enough for Barb. She had been having some problems with her right knee and the injury she received while vacationing in the Smokies was the icing on the cake. She needed to have knee replacement surgery and it happened on November 8th. She wasn’t sure she made the right decision until just about a week before Christmas. She’s been doing well with the physical therapy. She will be getting back in the swing of things and driving herself to work starting the New Year. We are glad to have her back on the road to recovery and she’s the happiest about it.
I also went down to The Camp and was able to take 2 deer for the Ky. rifle season. Barb wasn’t ready to travel yet, so we stayed home and had an intimate Thanksgiving with just our kids and some board games.
~ As we came into December things were going pretty well with Barb’s recovery. I was able to take DJ down to “The Camp” for a weekend for his very first deer hunt. You can read more about it and other stories in my blog at www.aviewfrommystand.blogspot.com Feel free to read and enjoy all the posts that I have shared. Mariah is very excited because she landed a part in the middle school production of “Alice In Wonderland”. As soon as school starts back she will have 20 practices each month in Jan. & Feb. Barb still wasn’t quite ready to travel so we missed the Dodge Family Christmas in Illinois for only the 3rd time in our 26 years. She did feel good enough to make potato soup, chicken tortilla soup and beer bread. So after we opened all our Christmas gifts at the butt crack of dawn, we had a nice breakfast. Our good friends Brad and Julie Chutes came down in the afternoon and shared soup and bread with us. It was a very nice Christmas.
Looking into the New Year, we know that there are going to be some family dynamic changes with Abby headed off to college. We are very hopeful that we will handle the things that come our way with the very same strength, determination and faith that has urged us through these first 26 years. It is our hope and prayer that 2011 brings to you all the hope, joy and peace that you need to sustain you for the challenges that come your way. We have been blessed beyond measure with loving family, awesome friends and some pretty terrific kids. We hope that you share in these same things with us in 2011.
That’s the view from my stand!
~ After bringing in the New Year with our good friends Brad and Julie Chutes, the first couple of months were spent getting caught up after the holidays. We also enjoyed celebrating a couple of birthdays, Abby {Jan.25th} and Mariah’s {Feb. 22nd}
~ We celebrated Barb’s birthday {March 2nd} with a trip to Illinois to see family. Chad & Angie were visiting from Texas with the newest member of their family, Olivia {“O-Dog”}. What a precious baby she is!
~ In April we celebrated our 26th wedding anniversary. I took a much needed early season “golf getaway” to North Myrtle Beach with some great friends. {GB, King, Donny, and the Senator} I also started working with a local organization called The Alpha Group. They are a non-profit agency that provides employment for adults with disabilities. I get to supervise a work crew of 3-5 guys as they do lawn care and landscaping in the summer and snow removal in the winter. It’s a challenging position but it’s very much like working around the guys at the cigar shop.
~ In June we followed through with one of our wishes. We’ve always wanted to get a huge cabin in the Smokies and vacation with family members, so right after school was out that’s exactly what we did. We’ve been to the Smokies several times but this was the most fun. {Except for when Barb jacked up her knee and we had to go to the ER}
~ July brought about our annual trip to Canada for some incredible walleye, northern pike and smallmouth bass fishing. This year I went with my friends Ed, Trooper Bobby, the good Senator from Arkansas, and Black Superman and his mother. Man, was I relieved when we got held up at the border that Troops Ohio State Highway Patrol bag sat on top of all the other bags. We were extended some “professional courtesy” just when we really needed it. This trip is always the pinnacle of my summers and I look forward to it like nothing else. You wouldn’t understand if you’ve never been. Also in July, with the help of Facebook, I was able to reconnect with an old friend, Brad Noe and his family.
~ August ushered in another school year and began the process of college applications for Abby. She had her choices narrowed down to 3 colleges. After researching the three and filling out the apps, the waiting game was on. She was very excited about getting the letter of acceptance to Bowling Green State University. Abby is going to be a “Falcon”. A few weeks after she found out she was accepted she received another letter from their business school accepting her into that program. We can hardly believe our baby is graduating and heading to college soon.
~ September ushered in the early deer season and dove season in Kentucky where I hunted with Brad and a few others. There’s a 450 acre farm south of Louisville that we are leasing for hunting rights and it’s a great place to get away. We took our first deer of the year that weekend. DJ finished up another season of soccer and practiced shooting his gun in eager preparation for his first hunt this year. We had unseasonably HOT weather for Sept. and on Little Brown Jug Day {Sept. 23rd} it was 95 degrees. We did our best to stay hydrated. We also had our annual golf outing in support of the Mike Dodge Memorial Fund. We were able to take a couple of great friends from Ohio to Illinois, too play golf and meet some of our family. I’m hoping we still stay friends!
~ October brought with it the beginning of filling out all the paperwork and getting deposits in at BGSU for Abby. She’s excited about her freshman class getting to live in brand new dorms with “private bathrooms”. I’m excited because BG is only about 50 minutes from Cabelas in Dundee, Michigan. Actually, we are very excited for her to get started in a new stage in her journey. I hope we’ve done enough preparing her for it.
~ November couldn’t get here soon enough for Barb. She had been having some problems with her right knee and the injury she received while vacationing in the Smokies was the icing on the cake. She needed to have knee replacement surgery and it happened on November 8th. She wasn’t sure she made the right decision until just about a week before Christmas. She’s been doing well with the physical therapy. She will be getting back in the swing of things and driving herself to work starting the New Year. We are glad to have her back on the road to recovery and she’s the happiest about it.
I also went down to The Camp and was able to take 2 deer for the Ky. rifle season. Barb wasn’t ready to travel yet, so we stayed home and had an intimate Thanksgiving with just our kids and some board games.
~ As we came into December things were going pretty well with Barb’s recovery. I was able to take DJ down to “The Camp” for a weekend for his very first deer hunt. You can read more about it and other stories in my blog at www.aviewfrommystand.blogspot.com Feel free to read and enjoy all the posts that I have shared. Mariah is very excited because she landed a part in the middle school production of “Alice In Wonderland”. As soon as school starts back she will have 20 practices each month in Jan. & Feb. Barb still wasn’t quite ready to travel so we missed the Dodge Family Christmas in Illinois for only the 3rd time in our 26 years. She did feel good enough to make potato soup, chicken tortilla soup and beer bread. So after we opened all our Christmas gifts at the butt crack of dawn, we had a nice breakfast. Our good friends Brad and Julie Chutes came down in the afternoon and shared soup and bread with us. It was a very nice Christmas.
Looking into the New Year, we know that there are going to be some family dynamic changes with Abby headed off to college. We are very hopeful that we will handle the things that come our way with the very same strength, determination and faith that has urged us through these first 26 years. It is our hope and prayer that 2011 brings to you all the hope, joy and peace that you need to sustain you for the challenges that come your way. We have been blessed beyond measure with loving family, awesome friends and some pretty terrific kids. We hope that you share in these same things with us in 2011.
That’s the view from my stand!
Friday, December 24, 2010
Merry Christmas 2010
Like most of you, the Christmas season always brings about different moods, thoughts or feelings for me. I’ve never been much for shopping but I think I’m a pretty generous person. I’m a big fan of different genres of music but I do get pretty tired of hearing the same songs over and over and over. I love to see the smiles and looks of “wonderment” on the faces of children when they open the gifts. I also know that the holidays, especially around Christmas, are the most stressful on people too. It might be because you are going through the holidays alone or struggling through the loss of a loved one. Or you may be dealing with health, family issues or even the loss of a job. Any one or all of these things are enough to try the best of souls.
It’s also seems to be the season where we tend to see the very best and worse of people. Patience runs short, people are rude in the stores, and some are even driving recklessly as if they were in a Grand Prix. You also see some of the most generous acts of kindness this time of year. There are many families with needs all year long but especially right now. With some of the local things like the PIN Christmas Clearinghouse, the “Whatever You Think It’s Worth Breakfast”, winter clothing drive for the free store, and the “Adopt A Family” that many of our community and service clubs do, it’s a good feeling to be a part of a small town like ours.
It seems every year we get “busy” with the things of the season that we find ourselves forgetting to take time out and remember why we celebrate Christmas. I also understand that some celebrate differently or sometimes not at all. A long, long time ago a baby came that changed the world. One of my favorite verses surrounding the birth of Jesus comes from Luke 2 and it’s a proclamation that rings true now as it did then. An angel appeared to shepherds and well, they were kind of freak out by it. But the angel had a message it was this, “don’t be afraid, for I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all people.” Did you catch that?? The angel said “for all people”. The angel didn’t say it would be for just people back then. The angel didn’t say that it would just be for the religious leaders. The angel didn’t say that it would only be for those that are happy, wealthy, and live in certain houses, or even in certain areas of the country.
The angel said, “A great JOY for all people.” I believe that this is not just good news, but that it is incredible news! Regardless of where you are right now or if any of the situations that I mentioned earlier pertain to you, there’s a “great Joy”, a gift if you will, with your name on it. I believe that to the core of my being. It’s my hope that this Christmas every family member, friend, acquaintance and even neighbors I haven’t met yet receive their “Joy”. After all, it’s for “all people”! From our home to yours, we wish you a house full of love, new memories made with family and friends, and a heart full of hope. Merry Christmas!
That’s the view from my stand.
It’s also seems to be the season where we tend to see the very best and worse of people. Patience runs short, people are rude in the stores, and some are even driving recklessly as if they were in a Grand Prix. You also see some of the most generous acts of kindness this time of year. There are many families with needs all year long but especially right now. With some of the local things like the PIN Christmas Clearinghouse, the “Whatever You Think It’s Worth Breakfast”, winter clothing drive for the free store, and the “Adopt A Family” that many of our community and service clubs do, it’s a good feeling to be a part of a small town like ours.
It seems every year we get “busy” with the things of the season that we find ourselves forgetting to take time out and remember why we celebrate Christmas. I also understand that some celebrate differently or sometimes not at all. A long, long time ago a baby came that changed the world. One of my favorite verses surrounding the birth of Jesus comes from Luke 2 and it’s a proclamation that rings true now as it did then. An angel appeared to shepherds and well, they were kind of freak out by it. But the angel had a message it was this, “don’t be afraid, for I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all people.” Did you catch that?? The angel said “for all people”. The angel didn’t say it would be for just people back then. The angel didn’t say that it would just be for the religious leaders. The angel didn’t say that it would only be for those that are happy, wealthy, and live in certain houses, or even in certain areas of the country.
The angel said, “A great JOY for all people.” I believe that this is not just good news, but that it is incredible news! Regardless of where you are right now or if any of the situations that I mentioned earlier pertain to you, there’s a “great Joy”, a gift if you will, with your name on it. I believe that to the core of my being. It’s my hope that this Christmas every family member, friend, acquaintance and even neighbors I haven’t met yet receive their “Joy”. After all, it’s for “all people”! From our home to yours, we wish you a house full of love, new memories made with family and friends, and a heart full of hope. Merry Christmas!
That’s the view from my stand.
Friday, December 17, 2010
ATV's, Nicknames and a Bobble Head
This past weekend, I took DJ for his first deer hunt down to our property that we lease an hour south of Louisville, Ky. It’s a 450 acre farm with lots of woods, fields, creek beds, deer and turkey. Not to mention a pretty vocal pack of coyotes. Overall, I think he had a pretty good time. Unfortunately neither the deer nor the weather cooperated with us this weekend, and DJ didn’t even get a chance to shoot. However, he did learn some very important life lessons. We’ll get to those in a few minutes.
Uncle Brad greeted us as we arrived and he was meeting DJ for the very first time. He welcomed us to camp and we started making plans to get out and hang our “Buddy Stand” that DJ and I would be using. Before we went out to hang the stand, Brad gave DJ a gift that all hunters/outdoorsmen should have. DJ received his first sharp hunting/pocket knife. It’s a beauty, and he really appreciated that gift from his new “uncle”. However, it didn’t take long for DJ to be DJ and already comfortable in his surroundings, he started poking fun at the way “Uncle Brad” talked. When we returned from putting the stand up, the ATV had a low tire. Brad was explaining to DJ that the “tar” needed to be fixed. DJ asked, “What’s a ‘tar’?” Brad said, “You know, those 4 round things that make the buggy go.” DJ says, “Ohhh, you mean the wheels? But you were trying to say TIRE?” We all got a good laugh out of that one as well. We knew he was going to love meeting Kelli Ann Noe, Kent’s daughter, because she has a really sweet southern accent.
Anyway, I realize that all kids are “not the same” when they reach that magic age. But I’m pretty certain, in DJ’s case, 10 is not the age for him to have the patience and stamina to sit in a stand deer hunting for a few hours. I think I’m a pretty patient person, but when it comes to hunting there’s a right way and a wrong way. If you’re sitting in a stand with a talking bobble head on crack, not a deer in the nearest three counties is going to come near you. That’s just a fact. Now, you take that and add that within a 12 hr. period, he went to the bathroom twice within 25 yards of our stand. Another big “No-No” when it comes to hunting. He just couldn’t “hold it” and he’s not quite sure why it mattered. Hopefully he will learn.
Before going to camp, DJ had heard us talking about all the coyotes howling at night. To a 10 yr. old that’s a pretty scary thing. Whenever we were going out to the stand or returning to the house in the dark, you could hear the fear in his voice when he talked. The first time he heard the coyotes howling Friday night as we sat around the campfire, he got up and ran into the house. I had to explain to him that they don’t care for humans either and they wouldn’t be coming up to eat off his plate. We got a good laugh out of that one. Another funny thing about the weekend was the “nickname” Brad and Josh gave DJ. They had decided that DJ didn’t sound very “country” so they chose to call him “JD”. They said it sounded like a good country boy’s name, since 30-40 people in Greensburg, Ky. carried that same moniker. Most of the weekend he was known as “JD” and I really appreciated the way Brad, Josh and the rest of the Noe’s loved on our little man.
One of “JDs” favorite things to do is riding the 4 wheelers. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear he wanted to come down just to ride. He’s at the age where he handles a 300 or 400 pretty well by himself. When we saw that the weather was going to turn on us Saturday, I put him on the Polaris and let him go. It was so funny because of the way sound carries down there in the hill country. He was a half mile away from us and we could hear him laughing, hooting and a hollering while he was winding up that 4 wheeler and going “fast”. He really got a big thrill out of that time on the ATV. As the weather turned we found that keeping “JD” entertained was going to be a chore. Luckily, Brad had packed away in a back closet an old Nintendo 64 unit and a dozen games from his other deer cabin. Josh figured out a way to get that unit hooked up to the DVD player that we watch the Duck Commander shows on, and “JD” was off and running with the vintage video games. After a while, he really thought that we should all play a game of Monopoly but we were able to sidetrack him on that one.
We enjoyed sharing a lot of stories Saturday night, some fine cigars and drinks. {not “JD” he was in bed…mostly} We spent a lot of time laughing, talking about friends and family and places we’ve been and faith. We woke up Sunday morning and the ground and everything around was covered in a layer of ice and a dusting of snow. After a little coffee and breakfast we packed up, cleaned up and said our good-byes until the next time. The first 18 miles home is back country roads and rolling hills on the way to the interstate. After the 18 miles, the trip home was smooth sailing until we were south of Columbus. As we were traveling home, “JD” asked if we could go back again sometime even though there were some things he didn’t like. I asked him what things? He said, “The lack of technology, the coyotes, and the cemetery in the back yard.” {There’s an old family cemetery behind the house. “Someone” mentioned around the campfire Friday night that one of the headstones had the name “David Joseph” on it and that it was a young boy that died tragically on the farm.}
I told him that it was my plan to return to the farm as often we can as long as we are leasing it. I think he will eventually settle down enough to let a deer get close to him. But until then, he’ll probably prefer to hang out with the guys, ride the ATV’s and explore all the areas of the farm. And I’m pretty sure he’ll be thankful for having the opportunity to share a place like this with his Dad and some really great friends. I sure am! That’s “the view from my stand!”
Uncle Brad greeted us as we arrived and he was meeting DJ for the very first time. He welcomed us to camp and we started making plans to get out and hang our “Buddy Stand” that DJ and I would be using. Before we went out to hang the stand, Brad gave DJ a gift that all hunters/outdoorsmen should have. DJ received his first sharp hunting/pocket knife. It’s a beauty, and he really appreciated that gift from his new “uncle”. However, it didn’t take long for DJ to be DJ and already comfortable in his surroundings, he started poking fun at the way “Uncle Brad” talked. When we returned from putting the stand up, the ATV had a low tire. Brad was explaining to DJ that the “tar” needed to be fixed. DJ asked, “What’s a ‘tar’?” Brad said, “You know, those 4 round things that make the buggy go.” DJ says, “Ohhh, you mean the wheels? But you were trying to say TIRE?” We all got a good laugh out of that one as well. We knew he was going to love meeting Kelli Ann Noe, Kent’s daughter, because she has a really sweet southern accent.
Anyway, I realize that all kids are “not the same” when they reach that magic age. But I’m pretty certain, in DJ’s case, 10 is not the age for him to have the patience and stamina to sit in a stand deer hunting for a few hours. I think I’m a pretty patient person, but when it comes to hunting there’s a right way and a wrong way. If you’re sitting in a stand with a talking bobble head on crack, not a deer in the nearest three counties is going to come near you. That’s just a fact. Now, you take that and add that within a 12 hr. period, he went to the bathroom twice within 25 yards of our stand. Another big “No-No” when it comes to hunting. He just couldn’t “hold it” and he’s not quite sure why it mattered. Hopefully he will learn.
Before going to camp, DJ had heard us talking about all the coyotes howling at night. To a 10 yr. old that’s a pretty scary thing. Whenever we were going out to the stand or returning to the house in the dark, you could hear the fear in his voice when he talked. The first time he heard the coyotes howling Friday night as we sat around the campfire, he got up and ran into the house. I had to explain to him that they don’t care for humans either and they wouldn’t be coming up to eat off his plate. We got a good laugh out of that one. Another funny thing about the weekend was the “nickname” Brad and Josh gave DJ. They had decided that DJ didn’t sound very “country” so they chose to call him “JD”. They said it sounded like a good country boy’s name, since 30-40 people in Greensburg, Ky. carried that same moniker. Most of the weekend he was known as “JD” and I really appreciated the way Brad, Josh and the rest of the Noe’s loved on our little man.
One of “JDs” favorite things to do is riding the 4 wheelers. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear he wanted to come down just to ride. He’s at the age where he handles a 300 or 400 pretty well by himself. When we saw that the weather was going to turn on us Saturday, I put him on the Polaris and let him go. It was so funny because of the way sound carries down there in the hill country. He was a half mile away from us and we could hear him laughing, hooting and a hollering while he was winding up that 4 wheeler and going “fast”. He really got a big thrill out of that time on the ATV. As the weather turned we found that keeping “JD” entertained was going to be a chore. Luckily, Brad had packed away in a back closet an old Nintendo 64 unit and a dozen games from his other deer cabin. Josh figured out a way to get that unit hooked up to the DVD player that we watch the Duck Commander shows on, and “JD” was off and running with the vintage video games. After a while, he really thought that we should all play a game of Monopoly but we were able to sidetrack him on that one.
We enjoyed sharing a lot of stories Saturday night, some fine cigars and drinks. {not “JD” he was in bed…mostly} We spent a lot of time laughing, talking about friends and family and places we’ve been and faith. We woke up Sunday morning and the ground and everything around was covered in a layer of ice and a dusting of snow. After a little coffee and breakfast we packed up, cleaned up and said our good-byes until the next time. The first 18 miles home is back country roads and rolling hills on the way to the interstate. After the 18 miles, the trip home was smooth sailing until we were south of Columbus. As we were traveling home, “JD” asked if we could go back again sometime even though there were some things he didn’t like. I asked him what things? He said, “The lack of technology, the coyotes, and the cemetery in the back yard.” {There’s an old family cemetery behind the house. “Someone” mentioned around the campfire Friday night that one of the headstones had the name “David Joseph” on it and that it was a young boy that died tragically on the farm.}
I told him that it was my plan to return to the farm as often we can as long as we are leasing it. I think he will eventually settle down enough to let a deer get close to him. But until then, he’ll probably prefer to hang out with the guys, ride the ATV’s and explore all the areas of the farm. And I’m pretty sure he’ll be thankful for having the opportunity to share a place like this with his Dad and some really great friends. I sure am! That’s “the view from my stand!”
Monday, December 6, 2010
Sharing Deer Camp Recipes
Hello friends and family! I hope this blog post finds you all doing well in your preperations for Christmas. We're having some extemely cold weather for early December and just a dusting of snow. Barb has done most of our Christmas shopping online again this year, and I have no complaints about that! I'm getting things ready for our very first Father/Son deer hunt this weekend with DJ. We're headed down to our 450 acre farm south of Louisville, Ky. with my friend, Brad Noe. I'm also excited to be part of a project with Brad and his son Brandon. They are putting together a new cookbook that will be titled, "The Ultimate Deer Camp Cookbook". Brad authored a Southern and Outdoor cookbook about 15 years ago, it did very well. Brandon is a freshman at the University of Illinois and he will be doing all the marketing for the cookbook. With the internet connections that we have now, compared to 15 years ago, this should be an interesting venture. Brad has asked me to write the intro and include some of my recipes as well. I'm sharing this with you because many of you enjoy my writing. I'm including in this blog my "rough draft" of the cookbook intro and would appreciate any thoughts or critism you might share. You're not going to hurt my feelings if you don't like it.
Below is my rough draft and you can leave your thoughts on A View From My Stand Blog or on my Facebook wall. Or you can email those to me at TimDodge@rocketmail.com. Thanks for your input and that's A View from My Stand!
The Ultimate Deer Camp Cookbook
Introduction:
When I received the phone call from my good friend that he was doing a deer camp cookbook, there was no doubt I wanted to be included. I’m honored that he asked me to write the introduction to his cookbook and include a few of my favorite recipes from camps gone by.
There’s a word that I like to use when describing something that is significantly more than avid, it is passionate. I’ve been an outdoorsman for more than 30 years. My friend, Brad Noe, has been a passionate outdoorsman/cook for even longer. His love for the outdoors, especially deer camp, is contagious, much like his laughter. When you begin reading through these pages of recipes and viewing the photos that accompany them, you will find yourself smack dab in the middle of a Noe deer camp. Your olfactory senses will kick into overdrive as your mind pictures a Dutch oven simmering with goodness or a charcoal grill covered in deer tenderloins wrapped in bacon; the essence of a campfire permeating your soul.
I’ve had the privilege of sharing a number of deer camp experiences with Brad and some of our friends. We always have lots of fun, lots of fellowship and lots of food. Whether its breads, veggies, soups/stews, casseroles, main dishes or even a few desserts, these recipes will be ones you’ll want to use over and over and then pass on to your friends. We are convinced that food brings people together, but great food always brings them back! Enjoy these recipes as we have; gathered around the campfire or stove surrounded by people that bring you pleasure when you are in their company. Happy Hunting and Incredible Cooking,
Tim Dodge
“Big Dog”
Below is my rough draft and you can leave your thoughts on A View From My Stand Blog or on my Facebook wall. Or you can email those to me at TimDodge@rocketmail.com. Thanks for your input and that's A View from My Stand!
The Ultimate Deer Camp Cookbook
Introduction:
When I received the phone call from my good friend that he was doing a deer camp cookbook, there was no doubt I wanted to be included. I’m honored that he asked me to write the introduction to his cookbook and include a few of my favorite recipes from camps gone by.
There’s a word that I like to use when describing something that is significantly more than avid, it is passionate. I’ve been an outdoorsman for more than 30 years. My friend, Brad Noe, has been a passionate outdoorsman/cook for even longer. His love for the outdoors, especially deer camp, is contagious, much like his laughter. When you begin reading through these pages of recipes and viewing the photos that accompany them, you will find yourself smack dab in the middle of a Noe deer camp. Your olfactory senses will kick into overdrive as your mind pictures a Dutch oven simmering with goodness or a charcoal grill covered in deer tenderloins wrapped in bacon; the essence of a campfire permeating your soul.
I’ve had the privilege of sharing a number of deer camp experiences with Brad and some of our friends. We always have lots of fun, lots of fellowship and lots of food. Whether its breads, veggies, soups/stews, casseroles, main dishes or even a few desserts, these recipes will be ones you’ll want to use over and over and then pass on to your friends. We are convinced that food brings people together, but great food always brings them back! Enjoy these recipes as we have; gathered around the campfire or stove surrounded by people that bring you pleasure when you are in their company. Happy Hunting and Incredible Cooking,
Tim Dodge
“Big Dog”
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Thanksgiving
Today many of us will be gathering around a table with family and friends to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. At our home, I’m going to be preparing a small feast for an intimate holiday gathering with my immediate family; my wife, Barb, our teenager, Abby, Mariah, who will be 12 in a couple months, and DJ, who will celebrate his 10th birthday on Sunday. So, we will have an extended weekend of celebrating. Barb is recovering from a knee replacement surgery so she gets to “commandeer” from her recliner. It was nice to sit around the table and each of us take a few moments to share a few things for which we are thankful. The turkey breast, honey ham, noodles, stuffing, corn, gravy, potatoes, cranberry jello and dinner rolls all turned out great. We all had our fill and the girls cleaned up after the meal; saving room for some dessert after our traditional Thanksgiving movie. {Christmas Vacation}
Its days like today that I enjoy being with my family, but I can’t help but think about all our extended family and friends as well. Being from a family of 10 kids, I’m used to being surrounded by lots of noise, lots of laughter, and what sometimes seems to be “mass chaos”. I have to say, sometimes it’s nice to have the more quiet event, but if I were going to be honest, I always miss being around family and friends. We seem to always have a swell time, regardless of the circumstances. Like many families, ours is not absent from adversity. My thoughts also go out today too many of our good friends. We’ve been blessed to have some of the best friends in the world. Some are close by and some not so close, but the great thing is that miles can not keep them out of our hearts and minds. The Johnson’s down in Florida are enjoying their first Thanksgiving there. The Noe’s are all gathered down at “The Camp” celebrating. Brad & Julie are sharing the day with their family and are also in our thoughts. The Paxton family is gathered at brother Ted and Jeans home and enjoying a great feast. The Shaw’s, the Eiland’s, the Ballard’s, the McCune’s, the Moore’s and so many more have touched our lives and made the journey all the better. Here’s wishing you all a safe, happy and joy filled Thanksgiving and a blessed December. That’s the view from my stand!
Its days like today that I enjoy being with my family, but I can’t help but think about all our extended family and friends as well. Being from a family of 10 kids, I’m used to being surrounded by lots of noise, lots of laughter, and what sometimes seems to be “mass chaos”. I have to say, sometimes it’s nice to have the more quiet event, but if I were going to be honest, I always miss being around family and friends. We seem to always have a swell time, regardless of the circumstances. Like many families, ours is not absent from adversity. My thoughts also go out today too many of our good friends. We’ve been blessed to have some of the best friends in the world. Some are close by and some not so close, but the great thing is that miles can not keep them out of our hearts and minds. The Johnson’s down in Florida are enjoying their first Thanksgiving there. The Noe’s are all gathered down at “The Camp” celebrating. Brad & Julie are sharing the day with their family and are also in our thoughts. The Paxton family is gathered at brother Ted and Jeans home and enjoying a great feast. The Shaw’s, the Eiland’s, the Ballard’s, the McCune’s, the Moore’s and so many more have touched our lives and made the journey all the better. Here’s wishing you all a safe, happy and joy filled Thanksgiving and a blessed December. That’s the view from my stand!
Friday, November 19, 2010
The Dream
It’s been a while since I’ve posted to “The View from My Stand” and again, my apologies. Life has certainly been pretty crazy this fall. Hunting season seemed to sneak up on us and 2010 has blown by like an evening breeze on the lake. I’ve had some things on my mind of late that I’ve been trying to put into words and I’m going to attempt to do so in this posting. Many of these thoughts are being shared for the very first time. Tomorrow will mark two years since we received that phone call from my brother Jim; the phone call to tell me that our brother Mike had unexpectedly died. A phone call that peeled my heart back like the winter stripping of the deciduous trees, and a section cut out in the way a seasoned butcher butterfly cuts tenderloin. I didn’t want to believe it, in fact, in my mind I quickly began bargaining with God to make it not true. Obviously, to no avail. For several months after that day, I had a difficult time caring about a lot of things, mainly myself. I gained more weight than I’ve ever carried; I was less motivated to do much of anything then ever before; I wasn’t treating my wife and kids the way I should; I was extremely pissed at God. It seemed that a blanket of gray covered my life, bound and secured like a backwoodsman’s mummy sleeping bag. I found myself regretting and wishing so many different things.
1. I regret not calling Mike in the two weeks leading up to that day, for many reasons.
2. I regret that we didn’t get the chance to do some things that we had talked about.
3. I wished that it was other people that I knew taken from us rather than Mike.
4. I wished that it had been me rather than him.
I recognize that some of these thoughts are selfish and not exactly clear thinking, but sometimes trying to wrap your mind around “why things happen” rebels against your logical judgment. I’ve always had a belief/faith in God, but I have to tell you, we were doing some serious WWF cage matches during this time. With the help of a loving family, some incredibly good friends, time and a little different view on life, I’m glad to be sharing these thoughts with you today. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about Mike and I wouldn’t have it any other way. We made years and years of memories that I get to share with my kids, his kids and anyone else who will listen. All of this brings me to the story that I want to share with you of this past weekend.
The last few years of Mike’s life he started getting into deer hunting. I like to think that I spurred that notion in him. We spent many seasons going pheasant and rabbit hunting; as well as lots of cold nights in the countryside on raccoon hunts. We didn’t get the opportunity to go deer hunting together and I wish that weren’t the case. If we had I know that Mike would love the property we are leasing down in Kentucky. Since September, I’ve had the opportunity to share some time with some pretty special people. My love for the outdoors is only surpassed by my love for my family and good friends. {Which I consider family} I’ve been spending some time at a 450 acre farm south of Louisville that we affectionately call “The Camp” with an old friend from when we lived in Illinois. My last post touched on our reconnecting. This past weekend was another memory maker. Along with the time spent cruising the property and in the woods hunting deer, it was great to get to see Brad’s children Rhiannon {28} and Brandon. {18} I hadn’t seen either of them since they were young, around 6-8 yrs old. It was as if the 10 to 20 years hadn’t taken place; great natured kids with a promising life. Without a doubt, Brad and Deb are very proud of them, me too. It was also good to see the matriarch of the family, Sarah Noe, Brad and Kent’s mother. I was introduced to a few people that I didn’t know, gathering as strangers and leaving as new-found friends. This being my third trip to the camp I thought it would be great to bring along a good friend from here in Ohio. So my pal, Matt Moore, joined me in the long weekend hunt at “The Camp”.
When we arrived a game plan was coming together on where everyone would be hunting and what was the likelihood of taking a nice deer come morning. A couple had been taken a few weeks before and many had been seen at different locations on the farm. On opening day we had 6 hunters in various locations on the farm with very high expectations. As it sometimes goes, the deer didn’t cooperate. We went from having 50 degree temps midweek, to having 70 degree Indian Summer days on Friday and Saturday. The deer just weren’t moving and only one was taken opening morning by Brandon. That afternoon we were all out in the woods until dark. A few deer were seen but no one took a shot. The evening was filled with lots of laughter and good times, to the point that my sides and head hurt from laughing too much. Maybe at another time I will tell you about the “Southern Baptist Hayride”…maybe I won’t.
Saturday night after I went to bed I had a crazy dream. My dream was that I was out hunting the farm and I shot three deer on Sunday morning. I told the guys at camp that I had that dream, but I didn’t tell them the entire dream. In my dream, I was hunting the farm with my brother Mike. We were having a great time enjoying the scenery of the rolling hills and tree lines. The deer came out and we harvested them. I’m not one to dream very often but this one was so vivid and clear it was as if it was really happening. We got up Sunday morning and went through our regular routines. Before heading to the woods I told the guys, “Today the deer are going down.” I went out and got settled into my stand and it wasn’t long before first light was upon us. The first deer was coming up out of the bottoms to the ridge I was hunting around 6:15 am straight across from the stand I was in. As I readied myself for the deer to top the ridge into the clearing I was thinking about the dream. Could it really happen? As soon as the deer cleared the ridge and started moving to my left it entered the shooting lane that I had chosen earlier. I grunted and the deer stopped in its tracks. I fired a round, hitting the deer right in the kill zone and it turned and traveled back into the woods about 75 yards. It was exactly 6:30 am. I usually wait about 15-20 minutes before getting down from the stand to track a deer. So right around 6:45 am I was thinking about getting down when out of the corner of my eye I caught some movement off to my right. About 115 yards on the other side of the clearing several deer were heading my way. As I looked them over I choose the biggest of the four and decided if they moved in I would take that one. As luck would have it they continued into the middle of the clearing on the ridge and again I grunted. The deer came to a complete stop and I sealed the deal. A round at about 70 yards dropped that deer in its tracks. I’ve only seen this happen a couple of times, but when I fired my gun the other three deer scattered off to the southwest. It wasn’t even a minute and they all returned and started milling around the deer that was down. It would have been easy to shoot another deer but the more I thought about it I decided two was enough. I know the “dream” didn’t get fulfilled, but really, who needs to harvest 3 deer in one day? I was very happy to get the opportunity to get the two. As I cleared my firearm, the deer milling around the fallen one decided that sticking around was a bad idea and with the closing of the bolt action, they bolted off into the woods.
Now the work starts; tracking, field dressing and retrieving the deer. Luckily we have multiple bodies and a couple of ATVs to make the job a little easier. The 2nd deer I could still see from the stand. The first one I had to do a little work to find it. I went to where I thought it entered back into the woods after I shot and there was evidence waiting for me. The unfortunate part, the property had been logged 5+ years ago and now it was thick, thick, thick with briars and brambles that made it tough for a deer to pass through. I started down the hillside following the trail left for me. 75 yards down the hill and I finally found the deer. After getting some help dragging it the rest of the way to the clearing and loaded up onto the side-by-side ATV,
I couldn’t help but think about the dream. I didn’t harvest 3 deer, but I did get two; one for me and one for Mike. I was extremely pleased, not just because I got to shoot a deer, but because it was almost as if Sunday morning was a continuation of Saturday nights dream. In spirit, I know Mike was with me. He’s always in my thoughts and in my heart. It was invigorating to share the success of the hunt with all the guys at “The Camp”. That night I was humbled with the honor of preparing the tenderloins on the grill for the hungry hunters and our guests. Everyone enjoyed them immensely. That brings me as much joy as the hunt. Some of the guys had to be on their way Sunday evening so Monday morning just Josh, Matt and I went out hunting. Unfortunately, a heavy fog rolled in and visibility became a problem. We decided that breaking camp a little early and getting back to our families in Ohio would be a good idea. So we began to wrap things up. As much fun as we have and the pure joy I get just from being in the outdoors, it’s always good to get back home. We had another awesome weekend of fun and new friends. I can’t wait to bring DJ and the rest of the family down to “The Camp”. But until then, I’ll remember this last weekend as the deer hunting season that Mike and I finally got to share. That’s the view from my stand!
1. I regret not calling Mike in the two weeks leading up to that day, for many reasons.
2. I regret that we didn’t get the chance to do some things that we had talked about.
3. I wished that it was other people that I knew taken from us rather than Mike.
4. I wished that it had been me rather than him.
I recognize that some of these thoughts are selfish and not exactly clear thinking, but sometimes trying to wrap your mind around “why things happen” rebels against your logical judgment. I’ve always had a belief/faith in God, but I have to tell you, we were doing some serious WWF cage matches during this time. With the help of a loving family, some incredibly good friends, time and a little different view on life, I’m glad to be sharing these thoughts with you today. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about Mike and I wouldn’t have it any other way. We made years and years of memories that I get to share with my kids, his kids and anyone else who will listen. All of this brings me to the story that I want to share with you of this past weekend.
The last few years of Mike’s life he started getting into deer hunting. I like to think that I spurred that notion in him. We spent many seasons going pheasant and rabbit hunting; as well as lots of cold nights in the countryside on raccoon hunts. We didn’t get the opportunity to go deer hunting together and I wish that weren’t the case. If we had I know that Mike would love the property we are leasing down in Kentucky. Since September, I’ve had the opportunity to share some time with some pretty special people. My love for the outdoors is only surpassed by my love for my family and good friends. {Which I consider family} I’ve been spending some time at a 450 acre farm south of Louisville that we affectionately call “The Camp” with an old friend from when we lived in Illinois. My last post touched on our reconnecting. This past weekend was another memory maker. Along with the time spent cruising the property and in the woods hunting deer, it was great to get to see Brad’s children Rhiannon {28} and Brandon. {18} I hadn’t seen either of them since they were young, around 6-8 yrs old. It was as if the 10 to 20 years hadn’t taken place; great natured kids with a promising life. Without a doubt, Brad and Deb are very proud of them, me too. It was also good to see the matriarch of the family, Sarah Noe, Brad and Kent’s mother. I was introduced to a few people that I didn’t know, gathering as strangers and leaving as new-found friends. This being my third trip to the camp I thought it would be great to bring along a good friend from here in Ohio. So my pal, Matt Moore, joined me in the long weekend hunt at “The Camp”.
When we arrived a game plan was coming together on where everyone would be hunting and what was the likelihood of taking a nice deer come morning. A couple had been taken a few weeks before and many had been seen at different locations on the farm. On opening day we had 6 hunters in various locations on the farm with very high expectations. As it sometimes goes, the deer didn’t cooperate. We went from having 50 degree temps midweek, to having 70 degree Indian Summer days on Friday and Saturday. The deer just weren’t moving and only one was taken opening morning by Brandon. That afternoon we were all out in the woods until dark. A few deer were seen but no one took a shot. The evening was filled with lots of laughter and good times, to the point that my sides and head hurt from laughing too much. Maybe at another time I will tell you about the “Southern Baptist Hayride”…maybe I won’t.
Saturday night after I went to bed I had a crazy dream. My dream was that I was out hunting the farm and I shot three deer on Sunday morning. I told the guys at camp that I had that dream, but I didn’t tell them the entire dream. In my dream, I was hunting the farm with my brother Mike. We were having a great time enjoying the scenery of the rolling hills and tree lines. The deer came out and we harvested them. I’m not one to dream very often but this one was so vivid and clear it was as if it was really happening. We got up Sunday morning and went through our regular routines. Before heading to the woods I told the guys, “Today the deer are going down.” I went out and got settled into my stand and it wasn’t long before first light was upon us. The first deer was coming up out of the bottoms to the ridge I was hunting around 6:15 am straight across from the stand I was in. As I readied myself for the deer to top the ridge into the clearing I was thinking about the dream. Could it really happen? As soon as the deer cleared the ridge and started moving to my left it entered the shooting lane that I had chosen earlier. I grunted and the deer stopped in its tracks. I fired a round, hitting the deer right in the kill zone and it turned and traveled back into the woods about 75 yards. It was exactly 6:30 am. I usually wait about 15-20 minutes before getting down from the stand to track a deer. So right around 6:45 am I was thinking about getting down when out of the corner of my eye I caught some movement off to my right. About 115 yards on the other side of the clearing several deer were heading my way. As I looked them over I choose the biggest of the four and decided if they moved in I would take that one. As luck would have it they continued into the middle of the clearing on the ridge and again I grunted. The deer came to a complete stop and I sealed the deal. A round at about 70 yards dropped that deer in its tracks. I’ve only seen this happen a couple of times, but when I fired my gun the other three deer scattered off to the southwest. It wasn’t even a minute and they all returned and started milling around the deer that was down. It would have been easy to shoot another deer but the more I thought about it I decided two was enough. I know the “dream” didn’t get fulfilled, but really, who needs to harvest 3 deer in one day? I was very happy to get the opportunity to get the two. As I cleared my firearm, the deer milling around the fallen one decided that sticking around was a bad idea and with the closing of the bolt action, they bolted off into the woods.
Now the work starts; tracking, field dressing and retrieving the deer. Luckily we have multiple bodies and a couple of ATVs to make the job a little easier. The 2nd deer I could still see from the stand. The first one I had to do a little work to find it. I went to where I thought it entered back into the woods after I shot and there was evidence waiting for me. The unfortunate part, the property had been logged 5+ years ago and now it was thick, thick, thick with briars and brambles that made it tough for a deer to pass through. I started down the hillside following the trail left for me. 75 yards down the hill and I finally found the deer. After getting some help dragging it the rest of the way to the clearing and loaded up onto the side-by-side ATV,
I couldn’t help but think about the dream. I didn’t harvest 3 deer, but I did get two; one for me and one for Mike. I was extremely pleased, not just because I got to shoot a deer, but because it was almost as if Sunday morning was a continuation of Saturday nights dream. In spirit, I know Mike was with me. He’s always in my thoughts and in my heart. It was invigorating to share the success of the hunt with all the guys at “The Camp”. That night I was humbled with the honor of preparing the tenderloins on the grill for the hungry hunters and our guests. Everyone enjoyed them immensely. That brings me as much joy as the hunt. Some of the guys had to be on their way Sunday evening so Monday morning just Josh, Matt and I went out hunting. Unfortunately, a heavy fog rolled in and visibility became a problem. We decided that breaking camp a little early and getting back to our families in Ohio would be a good idea. So we began to wrap things up. As much fun as we have and the pure joy I get just from being in the outdoors, it’s always good to get back home. We had another awesome weekend of fun and new friends. I can’t wait to bring DJ and the rest of the family down to “The Camp”. But until then, I’ll remember this last weekend as the deer hunting season that Mike and I finally got to share. That’s the view from my stand!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
